Jim Kelley reported to the quorum court on Monday that the county Road Dept. has leased road graders for the past 12 years, but the market has changed drastically. With the current lease term ending in September, he had recently requested bids. Only two bidders responded, and both offered significantly higher rates.
“There’s no way we can afford what they’re doing,” Kelley said. He explained that previous leases carried lower prices because companies could still sell the graders overseas after the end of the lease period. That market has shrunk, and a new lease would increase the current rate of $1,300 per month to $2,200.
Kelley said he has located some used graders the county can purchase. The Road Department can afford to buy eight graders, compared with the current fleet of 10. Kelley said he could work with that number of vehicles, although he hopes to afford two more. Kelley said the department will be able to service the vehicles, although more training will be required for computer repairs.
He also said a bridge repaired on Carroll Road 705 has re-opened. A grant will pay half of the $230,000 cost, and most of the county’s share came from in-kind labor.